Providing detailed and unbiased reviews of soccer equipment.

Bamboo Shin Guards Review (Legend Soccer Co.)

While Nike J Guard and Mercurial Lite shin guards have dominated the market for their protection and affordability, there are a new pair of shin guards on the market that are worth taking a look at. They’re called the LEGEND 1, they’re made out of bamboo, and, as the company claims, they’re the only pair of shin guards you’ll ever need to buy due to their strength-to-weight ratio higher than graphite. They’re available to purchase here.

Tech Specs

Designed for high performance, LEGEND 1 is ridiculously lightweight, relentlessly strong, and offers a low-profile that gives you the freedom to play. With a 100% bamboo shell, this is the world’s first sustainable shin guard, so LEGEND 1 makes a statement. The shin guard weighs in at a staggering 1.5 oz, which gives a player the feeling that they’re not even there. Utilizing the natural properties of bamboo, the outer shell has a strength-to-weight ratio higher than graphite, a higher tensile strength than many alloys of steel, and a higher compressive strength than many mixtures of concrete. LEGEND 1 has been tested in 20,000+ hours of game time and can withstand any tackle in a match.

LEGEND 1 span just 7’’ long and 3’’ wide and have 1/8 inch padding to protect against the highest of impacts. Through their innovative tear drop design, they’ve provided 7 inches of protection at the highest impact zone while maintaining a minimal profile. Through the anti-microbial properties of both bamboo and their closed cell protective padding, LEGEND 1 shin guards are nearly odorless. This high performance foam will help protect from moisture, mildew, and keep the shin safe at the same time.LEGEND 1 is presented in a customized box, which has a set of shin guards and their custom Legend sleeves. Their sleeves complete the package by keeping your guards tight to the shin to prevent movement while playing in the game. Everyone wears their guards differently, but they recommend using the sleeves to keep LEGEND 1 up and out of the way.

LEGEND 1 shin guards run one size fits all (ages 13 and up), are shipped worldwide, and can be customized for teams, tournaments, and camps with names, numbers, tournament logos, or team crests. Whether it’s a gift for your team, a tournament prize, or a gift for your camp attendees, Legend Soccer Company can make it happen. The LEGEND 1 shin guards are available to purchase here.

The Verdict

Intrigued by the idea of the world’s first sustainable shin guard, my expectations were pretty high when I first received my pair of LEGEND 1 shin guards. After putting them through their paces, my expectations were not only met, but exceeded.

At first, I was a little taken aback at how small they are, only spanning 7 inches long and 3 inches wide, but after playing in them for a few hours, that concern quickly went away. As Legend Soccer Company states, they really do provide protection at the highest impact zone while maintaining a minimal profile. They sit comfortably on my shins with their custom Legend sleeves wrapped snugly over them and they’re so lightweight, only weighing in at 1.5 oz, that I often forget I’m wearing them. When I put these on at practice, my teammates always look and ask about them since they’ve never seen shin guards like these before. I gladly inform them that they’re made out of bamboo, they weigh in at just 1.5 oz, and they’re nearly odorless. They look at me like I have ten heads, wondering how there’s a shin guard as revolutionary as this one, but there’s no denying that there is. And on top of all that, they have a higher compressive strength than many mixtures of concrete, the solid material that we walk on everyday.I did experience a few tackles while testing these shin guards, which I was thankful for to see first hand just how strong they really are. I must say, the strength, protection, and durability of the LEGEND 1 is very impressive, making it worth its $59 USD price tag. Not only are they stronger, lighter, and much less bulky than many of the popular and inexpensive shin guards currently on the market, they’re also less smelly due to the anti-microbial properties of bamboo and the closed cell protective padding which protects against moisture and mildew. Having played in both the LEGEND 1 and Mercurial Lite shin guards on extremely hot, sweaty days, this closed cell padding on the LEGEND 1 is a real game changer.

With all the affordable shin guards currently on the market from top brands like Nike and Adidas, I’d be skeptical of spending $59 USD for a single pair of shin guards, too. But unlike those shin guards, these are much lighter, stronger, less stinky, and smaller yet still more protective than all of those shin guards; and since you haven’t tried out these revolutionary shin guards, you just have to take my word for it—these are worth every penny. You can purchase a pair for yourself here.